Catcher Will Smith’s $140 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers includes $50 million payable from 2034-43, raising the team’s deferred compensation liability to $915.5 million owed five players.
Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández also are due deferred payments extending from 2028-44.
Smith receives a $30 million g bonus under the deal announced Wednesday, half payable on Nov. 15 and the rest on Jan. 15, 2025, according to contract obtained by The Associated Press.
He gets salaries of $13.55 million this year. $13 million a year from 2025-27, $9.5 million annually from 2028-32 and $9.95 million in 2033.
Los Angeles will defer $5 million annually, to be paid in equal installments of $5 million each July 1 from 2034-43.
If Smith is traded, remaining salary will be paid in-season and deferrals eliminated for the remainder of the contract.
Smith gets a hotel suite on road trips and will made an annual charitable contribution.
Ohtani is due $680 million from 2034-43, Freeman $57 million from 2028-40 and Hernández $8.5 million from 2030-39. Betts is owed $115 million in salaries from 2033-44 and the final $5 million of his g bonus payable from 2033-35.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
